Darrkon joined Lacey at the lake as soon as possible.  It took him a
while to wash away the grime he had accumulated while cleaning up the
cove, but he was sure Lacey would wait for him.  As he and Calindeth
landed Lacey ran toward them.

>"Hi! you ready for a swim?" Lacey asked, grinning at him.
>As they raced for the water, Lacey kept sneaking glances at him, 
>wondering at what she was feeling.
>
> 
They spashed around in the water together, Lacey smiling all the while.
Darrkon soon found himself smiling as well.  He regretted that he
couldn't let her see how happy he was at the time, but he thought it was
too soon to remove the mask.  After a bit more playing about Lacey
turned towrd him.  "I have a question for you."  She said plainly. j
>Lacey explained about what had happened with Jaquel & Naomi's ideas 
>behind it.
>
>"So what I was wondering is if you would be willing to help me by keeping 
>your ears open & asking some discreet questions. "Will you?" she looked 
>up at him pleadingly.

Darrkon was surprised that he would be asked to assist in such an
important assignment this soon after being accepted into the warren.  He
wasn't sure he could be of any help since no one here would trust him.
But as he looked at Lacey's sweet and innocent face he knew he wouldn't
be able to turn her down.  "Of course I'll help.  In any way I can."
When he thought about what he had just heard another thought came to
him.  "Lacey, this business with the poisoning has me thinking.  I ran
into someone strange a yesterday.  A man in a hood said his name was..."

"A'shair?"  Lacey finished for him.  Normally Darrkon hated being
interrupted but this time it didn't matter so much.  "So you're meeting
more people here.  That's good.  A'shair is a nice guy from what any of
us know about him.  He's really quite though and keeps to himself."
Lacey began smiling at him again, "Kind of like I expected you to be.
I'm glad I was wrong."

Darrkon found himself smiling again and regretting that Lacey could not
see it.  At the same time he felt an anger swell up inside him that he
had thought was gone.  Anger at the dragon that scarred his face and
forever changed his outlook on life.  Before that day he had often
thought of marrying and having a family, even now with Lacey he couldn't
bring himself to believe that happiness would ever be possible.

<She was only acting as any dragon mother would.>  Calindeth spoke to
calm him.  <It wasn't personal, I would do the same thing to protect
you.>  There was a pause, then his dragon continued.  <Even to her, if
you ever asked me to.>

Darrkon was shocked.  Not only that Calindeth had said such a thing but
that he was indeed thinking about it.  He quickly regained control of
his anger.  <Never friend.  I know what killing another dragon could do
to you, especially your mother.  I know you feel no loyalty toward her
but I feel to much for you.  Hear me now, I will never risk your safety
for anyone else.  You are all the family I have.>

"What's wrong?"  Lacey asked, "You got so quiet."

"What?  Oh nothing."  He replied, "I just had something on my mind.  So
when should we start our investigation?"

"Well there's no time like the present."  Lacey answered as she walked
from the water.  Darrkon couldn't help staring at her as she left.  He
just hoped he could concentrate on the task at hand.


NRPG:  OK Kat.  Take it when you're ready.  I'll follow your lead.